Page 72 of Queen of the Wicked
“Oh?” Her admission provoked a genuine grin from Alessia. “What did you do?”
“I may or may not have created something extravagant for you to wear to the ball.”
“The ball?” Alessia glanced at her reflection in confusion. “What ball?”
“It is to honor the Freeing Ceremony this weekend,” she explained. “Once a year, His Majesty will announce those who are no longer tainted. They will then have the choice to be reincarnated or remain here in Hell.”
Alessia sat forward, intrigued. “Who is being freed?”
“That is what makes it so entertaining.” Isla had a bounce in her step, staring dreamily out the window overlooking the gardens. “It is a surprise. No one knows if they will be selected, so those who reside in this realm travel far and wide to attend. You will likely see a lot more of the staff here in the castle as they prepare for it.” She continued rambling, unable to rein in her excitement. “There will be dancing and extravagant food, and the decorations are always superb. You willloveit.”
“I am sure I will.” A beat, and then, “You didn’t need to make me anything, but I appreciate it all the same. Am I allowed to see it?”
“Not until the ball,” she replied with a mischievous grin. “I used to be a seamstress on Earth before I got wrapped up with the wrong people. This time alone made me remember how much I enjoy it. I am sure His Majesty will beverypleased when he sees you in it.”
“Erebos’s opinion doesn’t matter to me.” But Alessia couldn’t help it when she blushed, remembering how dark the lord’s eyes had grown when he scanned her breasts and?—
“You are a pretty liar,” Isla teased.
Alessia faked a gasp. “I amnota liar!”
“Tell that to your burning cheeks!” she retorted. “I am surprised this room isn’t aflame yet!”
Tossing her head back with laughter, Alessia was thankful for this new friendship when, for the first time since yesterday, she wasn’t thinking of her new responsibility to the realm or her budding relationship with the Lord of Hell.
In that moment, she was giggling with her friend like teenagers at a sleepover, and she wanted to cherish the fleeting moment of innocence as long as she could.
The gardensof the castle bore a resemblance to those found on Earth. Hedges upon hedges of greenery surrounded a circular, three-tiered fountain with little park benches at its center. The only difference between the realms were the types of plants that grew. The black sunflowers—corathins, as she’d come to learn—seemed to be in full bloom, thriving as the crimson-colored sun beat down on the unique plants. She’d been fascinated by the glittery petals when she first arrived, only becoming more enthralled with each passing day.
Winding her way around the last hedge, she suddenly stopped. Erebos had told her to meet him here at noon, but he wasn’t who she found waiting for her in the maze's center.
She must have been dreaming. That was the only explanation for why hermotherwas sitting on the park bench with tears in her eyes and a watery smile.
Alessia blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating.Nothing about her had changed in the month and a half they’d spent apart. She still had spiky blond hair shaved on one side with piercings crawling up her ear, and she wore a tunic and pants, much different than her fashion taste on Earth, which consisted of leather jackets and rocker tees. She was never fond of dresses; Alessia couldn’t remember a time in her childhood when she wore one.
“My dear girl,” Elyana whispered. With the use of the nickname her mother had called her since birth, she knew that this wasn’t a dream. Her mother washere,and she was alive and safe.
Alessia was a little girl all over again as she raced to the park bench and threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath. Elyana rocked her back and forth, allowing her to release every emotion pent up since her arrival. In her mother’s arms, she could grieve. She could allow herself to fall apart entirely without fear of retribution.
“H-How are you alive?” she gasped, pulling back to ensure this was still real. “I thought you died. I tried to find you, butMom?—”
“I know,” she soothed, swiping away a stray tear. “I amsosorry I wasn’t there, Alessia. Things were more…complicated in Heaven than I predicted they would be. Erebos filled me in on everything that’s happened the past couple of weeks.”
“Erebos?” She swiped at her cheeks. “He…He found you?”
“Not him, per se, since he isn’t allowed in the realm without permission, but he sent a lovely girl to attemptto find me. I can’t remember her name, though. Catrina, maybe?”
Alessia didn’t even care that he sent his former mistress. Catalinafound her,and the fact that Erebos went to all that trouble just to locate her meant more to her than he’d ever know. It made her want to kiss him all over again.
And maybe she would.
“I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve been utterly lost since coming to Hell, and now you can fill me in on everything you were supposed to tell me on my birthday. I just wish…” Her voice broke as the memory of her mom crept in. Elyana tilted her chin up. “She is with us every moment, Alessia, and she would besoproud of all you have accomplished. You know that, right?”
Alessia nodded.
“Good. Then that is what you must remember going forward. It is whatIhad to remember until I found you again. It allowed me to put one foot in front of the other, knowing you might still be alive even though she had left the realms too soon.”
“Were you…okay in Heaven?” From what she had heard from Erebos, Bastian had committed countless crimes by stealing lost souls from the soul yard, but it was also something he didn’t confide in a lot of people, for fear of word getting back to Bastian about treason. It could cost him this entire realm, so Alessia decided to keep it vague for now.
